Konqueror plug-ins

KGet (Download Manager) plug-in for Konqueror

Mozilla Firefox

Mozilla Firefox is the ubiquitous web browser. Based on open source components, it is trademarked and cannot be altered or re-distributed with any change that involves the name or trademarks.
Install the current version:

sudo apt-get install firefox

A KDE-optimised version of Firefox is available from the Blue Systems (the current sponsor of Kubuntu) Launchpad repository. Follow the instructions found there to install:

Firefox Plug-ins

The Firefox web browser supports a wide variety of third-party add-ons, extensions, and plug-ins. They are referred to as "plug-ins" in this guide (the original term) but many are found and configured under the "extensions" or "add-ons" tabs in Firefox (once they are installed).

Firefox -> Tools -> Add-ons -> Extensions (or Plug-ins)

Adblock Plus plug-in (block ads in a web page)

Adblock Plus blocks ads that appear in web pages. It is an important tool to limit tracking and undesirable website elements, as well. You can subscribe to a free filter service, and can add to the block list individual ads and website elements with a single click.

sudo apt-get install xul-ext-adblock-plus

You can also add this extension from Firefox -> Tools -> Add-ons -> Get Add-ons -> Search All Add-ons -> AdBlock Plus. (This method will also ensure that automatic updates are installed by Firefox.)

Recent versions of Adblock Plus allow the display of a large number of "partner" ads unless you disable this undesirable behavior:

Because Adblock Plus appears to now be creating holes in its own blocking service, it is probably worthwhile to stop automatic updates and only update Adblock Plus selectively (in case the developers in the future decide to create even more holes in the plug-in's blocking capability without the corresponding option to disable the behavior).

NoScript plug-in (controls scripts)

The NoScript plugin is considered one of the most important security measures for browsing the Internet. Most viruses and trojans gain access to computers from the Internet through scripts. This plugin allows you to choose which scripts to allow and blocks the rest.

Add this extension from Firefox -> Tools -> Add-ons -> Get Add-ons -> Search All Add-ons -> NoScript. (This method will also ensure that automatic updates are installed by Firefox.)

NoScript has a long of websites on its "whitelist." It is important to review this list and remove the websites for which you don't wish to automatically allow scripts (I remove them all).

Firefox -> Tools -> Add-ons -> NoScript -> Preferences -> Whitelist

A large number of websites use multiple locations/URLs to assemble their webpage content, a process which is blocked by NoScript's ABE (Application Boundaries Enforcer) function. I have found it necessary to disable ABE in order for most of my websites to function correctly.

Many websites now use aggressive pop-ups to place advertising in front of the actual content. While NoScript can block these ads, there will be a "placeholder" still blocking the content unless you turn off the placeholders:

Most websites use scripting extensively these days, so that you may need to "Allow" a website in NoScript. To block the individual undesirable elements of the website, use AdBlock Plus.

Bookmark Favicon Changer plug-in

In the newest versions of Firefox, there are some bugs regarding the Favicons (the small icons that appear in the address bar) and the Bookmark icons. This plug-in will restore the icons that get erased (leaving a blank dotted box) or allow you to choose your own Favicons / Bookmark icons.

RefreshBlocker plug-in (prevents redirects)

RefreshBlocker allows the user to decide which websites (and pages) will be allowed to redirect (based on META tags within the webpage). Although Firefox (as of version 3.5) blocks all directs by default, the behavior is not customizable; it is therefore preferable to turn off the Firefox redirect control and use RefreshBlocker instead.

Add this extension from Firefox -> Tools -> Add-ons -> Get Add-ons -> Search All Add-ons -> RefreshBlocker. (This method will also ensure that automatic updates are installed by Firefox.)

Turn off the Firefox automatic redirect blocker:

Firefox -> Enter about:config in the browser location bar -> right-click on "accessibility:blockautorefresh" -> Toggle to change the value from true to false

Video DownloadHelper plug-in for Firefox

The Video DownloadHelper plugin allows the download of videos (including Flash videos) from sites like YouTube.

You can add this extension from Firefox -> Tools -> Add-ons -> Get Add-ons -> Search All Add-ons -> Video DownloadHelper. (This method will also ensure that automatic updates are installed by Firefox.)

Hide Tab Bar With One Tab plug-in

In Firefox v. 23 and later, the ability to hide tabs has been disabled. This plugin restores the ability to hide tabs if only one tab is open, restoring the function to hide tabs during normal browsing.

You can add this extension from Firefox -> Tools -> Add-ons -> Get Add-ons -> Search All Add-ons -> Hide Tab Bar With One Tab. (This method will also ensure that automatic updates are installed by Firefox.)

User Agent Switcher plug-in for Firefox

The User Agent Switcher plugin allows a browser to masquerade as another browser, allowing browser-specific content to be displayed (most of the time). In the past there were a few old web apps that ran only on IE (and if one is encountered this plug-in may still be useful). Now that Firefox is the world's leading web browser, however, this plug-in should no longer be necessary for the average user.

A user agent string also identifies your OS. Users of an uncommonly used (and easily identifiable) OS may wish to protect their privacy and not identify their OS correctly; for these users, User Agent Switcher is valuable for privacy reasons. Some users, for example, may wish to identify their very specialised OS as Debian or Ubuntu instead.

You can add this extension from Firefox -> Tools -> Add-ons -> Get Add-ons -> Search All Add-ons -> User Agent Switcher. (This method will also ensure that automatic updates are installed by Firefox.)

To use this add-on, the settings for Firefox must be changed prior to usage:

A disadvantage of the User Agent Switcher is that it allows Firefox to revert to the default user agent string at each restart, so that it must be re-engaged each time. An alternate method to change the default Firefox user agent string is directly through the about:config settings (also see this blog post):

The default user agent string for Kubuntu actually reflects Ubuntu as the OS (so that online OS usage statistics incorrectly count Kubuntu as Ubuntu). If you wish Kubuntu usage to be accurately counted, it is helpful to change your user agent string permanently.

Lightbeam (website crosslink visualization)

Lightbeam is a Firefox plug-in that is able to display the links on a website (to which you are connected) while browsing, giving you an indication of who can see your browsing habits at that moment.

You can add this extension from Firefox -> Tools -> Add-ons -> Get Add-ons -> Search All Add-ons -> Lightbeam. (This method will also ensure that automatic updates are installed by Firefox.)

Privacy Badger (tracking management)

Privacy Badger is a Firefox plug-in sponsored by the Electronic Frontier Foundation. Currently in alpha stage, it blocks many tracking mechanisms more stringently than the native Firefox mechanisms. Install the .xpi add-on from the website.

Unplug Download Management

The UnPlug add-on lets you save video and audio which is embedded on a webpage.

You can add this extension from Firefox -> Tools -> Add-ons -> Get Add-ons -> Browse All Add-ons. (This method will also ensure that automatic updates are installed by Firefox.)

Lucifox (eBook reader extension)

Lucifox (Lucidor for Firefox) enables e-books to be read and e-book catalogs to be browsed in a Firefox window.

Kaffeine Plug-in for Firefox

MPlayer plug-in for Firefox

Gecko-mediaplayer has replaced the Mplayer plugin.
This package also installs gnome-mplayer.

sudo apt-get install gecko-mediaplayer

VLC plug-in for Firefox

This package also installs the VLC player.

sudo apt-get install mozilla-plugin-vlc

Helix player plug-in for Firefox

This package also installs the Helix player, which is the open source player that plays Real Player content in Linux.

sudo apt-get install mozilla-helix-player

Moonlight plugin for Firefox

Moonlight is part of the Novell Mono project that is an open source implementation of Silverlight (the Microsoft multimedia presentation platform). It is based on FFMpeg. It is made to work best with the Firefox 3 web browser, as a plugin (but also works with other mozilla browsers). Version 2.3 is available as a plugin for mozilla-based browsers:

sudo apt-get install moonlight-plugin-mozilla

The stable version 2.4 is available here. The Moonlight 3.99 plugin (compatible with most Silverlight 3/4 content) is here.

Netflix under Moonlight

Netflix streaming requires both the capabilities of Silverlight 2.0 and Digital Rights Management modules. Although the current version of Moonlight 2.0 will run most Silverlight content (including Netflix content), Netflix has not yet released Digital Rights Management modules for Linux. Please contact Netflix directly for further information or sign a petition.

An HTML5 Netflix plugin (currently being developed by Google for the Chrome browser) may soon be available. Other alternatives are to run Netflix in Wine or to use the Netflix Android app in a virtual Android environment.

Turn off SSL certificate name in address bar

In newer versions of firefox, the validity of the SSL certificate associated with a website is displayed as a color-coded background to the Favicon (the small icon displayed in the address bar). However, Firefox currently also displays the name of the site issuing the SSL certificate, which can be annoying, since for most sites this is a duplicate of the domain name (which then gets displayed twice in the address bar). To turn off this behavior:

View Firefox cache

In a new window/tab, enter about:cache in the Firefox address bar. You can view and save individual elements (from all open windows/tabs) in the cache from there.

IceWeasel

Due to trademark restrictions of Mozilla products, the Debian project has created versions of the (otherwise free) software that has been stripped of the non-free trademarks. See here and the Debian wiki for more information. To install them, use a package manager to add the Debian repository for your country ( e.g. deb http://ftp.us.debian.org/debian unstable main ) temporarily while installing the software. Then install the software package using the package manager or from the command line:

After installation of the individual package, it is best to disable the Debian repository so it does not interfere with the (K)Ubuntu repositories.

A user that is interested in the philosophy of free software that Iceweasel symbolises may wish to consider a full Debian OS installation (of which (K)Ubuntu is a fork) instead of (K)Ubuntu.

GNUzilla IceCat

The GNU project also maintains a version of Mozilla Firefox that is free of trademarks and branding, called GNUZilla IceCat. .deb packages for (K)Ubuntu can be downloaded and installed through the GNUzilla PPA repositories.

Opera

Opera is a proprietary browser and internet suite (currently free on PCs) also used in some mobile devices and gaming consoles. It includes email, an address book, IRC chat, integrated BitTorrent, and webfeeds. A limited number of plugins are also available. Download from the website and follow the instructions or install from the Opera repository:

Chromium

Chromium is the open source browser on which Google Chrome is based. It does not include the undesirable user tracking mechanisms of Google Chrome or the Google logos (and is therefore recommended by many users instead of Chrome).

Google Chrome

Google Chrome is Google's proprietary web browser. Based on the open-source Chromium browser, Google adds the Google name and logo, an auto-updater system called GoogleUpdate, RLZ (a user-tracking mechanism), and other Google add-ons. To use this instead of Chromium, download and install the .deb package here.

Kwooty

Email Clients

KMail

KMail (Kontact Mail) is the default email client included with Kontact. Access it by going to

K menu -> Office -> Kontact Personal Information Manager

or

K menu -> Internet -> KMail

Kontact includes email, an address book, a calendar, reminders, pop-up notes, a link to the Akregator News/RSS reader, time-tracking, and more.

To change view mode or aggregation mode (grouping) of the message list pane, use the icons to the right of the search pane. (Configuration of this doesn't seem to be available from the settings menus.)

PGP and Kmail

Thunderbird

Mozilla Thunderbird is a licensed and trademarked free open-source email client that is compatible with Firefox. Thunderbird works with free Gmail and Yahoo Mail accounts (using Imap). Install:

sudo apt-get install thunderbird

Lightning calendar extension

Lightning is the calendar extension for Thunderbird (with functionality similar to the stand-alone application Sunbird). Install:

sudo apt-get install xul-ext-lightning

Enigmail

Enigmail is an add-on to Thunderbird that allows you to easily encrypt your email using OpenPGP, which is included in the kernel by default. It also allows you to create and manage the encryption keys. Install:

sudo apt-get install enigmail

Also see these tips for instructions on setting up e-mail with PGP encryption.

Miniminize to System Tray

MinimizeToTray revived is a valuable plugin/add-on/extension, IMO. It allows Thunderbird to be minimized to the System Tray instead of to the Taskbar. This allows Thunderbird to run discreetly in the background, checking for new mail and calendar events (e.g. through the Lightning extension). The same plugin/add-on/extension also is available for Firefox. Install:

New Mail Icon for Thunderbird

New Mail Icon is an experimental tray add-on which notifies you of new mail. (Note: If you leave Thunderbird running minimized to the System Tray (with the MinimizeToTray add-on, for example), it has a built-in "new message" notifier already, so that this add-on would not be necessary in such a situation.) Download from the website. Install:

Thunderbird -> Tools -> Add-ons -> Install -> select downloaded file

Evolution

Evolution is the default Gnome-based email client used in Ubuntu. Installing it will also install many Gnome components.

sudo apt-get install evolution

FetchYahoo

FetchYahoo is a Perl script to fetch mail from a free Yahoo mail account and spool it locally so that an email client like Thunderbird can access it with POP3. For more info see the Ubuntu Community documentation. Install:

sudo apt-get install fetchyahoo

Newsreaders

Akregator

Akregator is the default news/RSS reader included with Kubuntu. Usage instructions are found in the Handbook.

Facebook Chat on Kopete

Konversation (IRC client)

Konversation is no longer the default Internet Relay Chat (IRC) client in Kubuntu, but is highly recommended nevertheless. It functions similar to the venerable mIRC. Make sure you have ports 6667-6670 open in your firewall to use IRC (and ports 1024-1028 open to use DCC). "A little less action and a little more Konversation." -- Elvis. Install:

sudo apt-get install konversation

Run:

K menu -> Internet -> Konversation

Konversation can be used directly with a proxy. For example, if you are using a Socks5 proxy on port 9050:

Quassel (IRC client)

Quassel is a cross-platform IRC client currently that is included as the default Kubuntu/KDE client. Based on the Qt platform, there is no DCC implementation (which makes this client limited in usefulness). Try Konversation for more features.

Quassel can be used directly with a proxy on a per-server basis. For example, if you are using a Socks5 proxy on port 9050:

When Twitter switched off API 1.0 on 11 June 2013, the tweets went dark for Choqok users as the application had not been updated in time to support API 1.1. This was due to the original developer not having time to maintain Choqok himself. On appeal to the Linux community, another developer stepped in and developed Choqok > 1.3.1 (which supports the API 1.1).

For users of Kubuntu Precise Pangolin 12.04 or later (> KDE 4.10), the updated program (or patch) is available at Launchpad. Download and run the version for your OS (32-bit i386 or 64-bit amd64). Either the Raring or Saucy version will work for Precise (after updating packages, including from KDE 4.8 to KDE 4.10).

FTP Clients

Although Konqueror can use FTP via kioslaves, you might wish to use a dedicated FTP client. Also see these FTP tips.

Filezilla

FileZilla is the ubiquitous free open-source FTP client and server for all platforms.

sudo apt-get install filezilla

Filesharing / P2P

Do not share copyrighted material or content that is otherwise illegal to share.

It is important to note that although SOCKS5 proxies can handle UDP traffic, KTorrent passes UDP packets outside of the SOCKS proxy server. If you desire IP address privacy, do not use UDP-based trackers with KTorrent.

This service attempts to monitor and filter IP addresses known for censorship, spying, or provision of false or malicious data to this type of Internet service.

Some older routers only allow 20 simultaneous connections or they will continually freeze (as their connection-table cache becomes full). If this occurs, decrease the maximum number of connections to 20:

Set Firefox to use KTorrent for magnet links

Firefox is very ticklish about this setting, so follow the instructions very carefully.

Open a window which has a magnet link on it. Click on the magnet link, and the error "Firefox doesn't know how to open this address, because the protocol (magnet) isn't associated with any program" usually appears.

Open a new tab (NOT a new window) and edit the configuration settings by typing about:config in the address bar of the newly-opened tab. Then add the network.protocol-handler.expose.magnet setting and set it to false:

DO NOT CLOSE the about:config tab until this step is complete! While the about:config tab remains open, go to the tab with your magnet link available. Click on the magnet link. A dialog box should appear to choose the application.

Now whenever you click on a magnet link in Firefox, it should be added automatically to KTorrent and will be found in the KTorrent -> Magnet section. If a different downloading program is later desired for use with magnets, the setting in Firefox can subsequently be changed:

Firefox -> Preferences -> Applications -> magnet -> (dropdown box)

Note: Magnet links will not work with KTorrent versions prior to 4.3 (and libktorrent 1.3). Download and install the current KTorrent / libktorrent versions from source code according to instructions here or install the Debian (.deb) packages found here.

Bittornado (BitTorrent Client)

Torrentflux (P2P client and server)

TorrentFlux is a PHP based BitTorrent controller that runs on a web server (using a MySQL database with the mysql-server package for server functions or the mysql-client for client functions) and uses a web interface that can be accessed remotely (e.g. http://localhost/torrentflux). This makes it ideal for seedbox purposes. It uses the BitTornado client for downloads. Install:

sudo apt-get install torrentflux

Apollon (P2P Filesharing)

Apollon is an older (now relatively obsolete) BitTorrent client that uses the Gift network (Gnutella, etc.). It uses plugins for compatibility with multiple networks. Obtain the packages from the Debian Etch archives for apollon and gift.

KMLDonkey (P2P eMule/eDonkey2000 Client)

KMLDonkey is a KDE frontend for MLDonkey, the P2P file sharing program (and network) that is able to use different network protocols.

sudo apt-get install kmldonkey mldonkey-server

Opentracker (Torrent tracker)

Opentracker is the most widely used torrent tracker software. It can be used within a private organisation or as a public service to track freely-available torrents. Download (through CVS) and installation instructions are at the website.